SSFBC First News

June 2012

Vol. 3 No. 6

s t h g i N r me

FBC

Sum

Wednesday nights during the summer Light supper 5:15 pm Bible Study 6:00 pm Children & Youth Activities 6:00 pm

Pastor

A Word From Your

Pastor Mark Bryant

Recently, President Obama signed a strategic pact with Afghanistan, spoke to the troops and then the nation about the ongoing war on terror. The next day, in response to his presence in Afghanistan, suicide bombers killed 7 people and wounded 17 others. Obviously, he cannot announce his visits to that country in advance due to the security risks, a fact that illustrates the ongoing threat posed by Islamic terrorists. The President’s trip coincides with the anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden.

One might ask if the world is safer because of his death and the answer is a resounding, yes, while at the same time, no. Taking him out of the picture certainly proved that we have the ability to defeat the leaders of extremists but at the same time since his death, terrorist groups have spread into other regions with the same agenda.

Ministerial Staff Senior Pastor

Mark Bryant [markbryant@ssfbc.org]

Associate Pastor

Fred Lewis [fredlewis@ssfbc.org]

Worship Pastor

Neal Terwilliger [nealterwilliger@ssfbc.org)

Associate Worship Pastor

Darren Gray [darrengray@ssfbc.org]

Minister of Education

Bruce Welch [brucewelch@ssfbc.org]

Minister of Recreation & Outreach

Mike Armstrong [mikearmstrong@ssfbc.org]

High School Student Pastor Brian Brewer [brianbrewer@ssfbc.org]

Middle School Pastor Heath Anderson [heathanderson@ssfbc.org]

Minister to Children Brit Fisher [britfisher@ssfbc.org]

Director of Preschool & Kindergarten Tracey Cody [traceycody@ssfbc.org]

Business Administrator

Tommy Johnston [tommyjohnston@ssfbc.org] Director of Technology Scott Singleton [scottsingleton@ssfbc.org] La Primera iglesia Mission Pastor Amadeo Miranda

On the same day that the President signed the agreement with Afghanistan, seven people were arrested in Britain on suspicion of financing terrorism; five self-described “anarchists” in Cleveland were arrested for planning to blow up a bridge and in February; an immigrant from Morocco was arrested near the U.S. Capitol building wearing what he thought was a suicide vest packed with explosives. These are just a few of the highlights of terrorists around the world.

To be sure, we cannot expect the threat to diminish in the coming years. Growing numbers of Muslims around the world are willing to die for their faith convinced that killing you and me in defense of Islam required by the Quran. So the question is, “What can we do”? Obviously, the war on terror is military so we must defend ourselves. The war on terror is economic and political so we must seek to improve the conditions in countries where militants are recruiting the next generation of terrorists. Above all this, it is Spiritual. We are fighting an enemy that seeks to impose its’ fundamentalist version of Islam on the entire world. Jesus described their motivation in John 16:2. They do these things because they do not know the Father or the Son! We know that the conflict will never totally end in this life but we should understand that Muslims can be reached with the gospel. In fact, in the last 15 years more Muslims have come to faith in Jesus Christ than in the last 15 centuries. When they come to Christ, their hearts will be changed.

Now you know me well enough to know that I would never encourage you to pray for the salvation of the Muslim population for our own comfort but I can encourage you to pray for their salvation for the glory of God! Our role in the world is to go, give and pray. Jesus has told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44) and this includes those who would like to kill you. If the time has ever been right to pray for the salvation of the Muslim, now is the time. If there has ever been a time to pray for the world, much of which is lost and separated from the promise of God in Christ, today is the day.

Over the next 3 months, we will send out more than two hundred of our church family across this nation and into the foreign mission fields. Add to these the presence of our Southern Baptist missionaries as well as those who are sent by other churches who are serving the Lord across the globe and it should move us to pray to the Lord of the harvest (Matthew 9:35ff). Will you join me and pray for those who will be going to share the love of Christ in other places around the globe. Will you pray for our missionaries as they put their lives into the hands of the Father to do with as He pleases? For the glory of God, pray for a harvest of souls and the building up of the body of Christ.

Be blessed, Pastor Mark

Diamond Set Adults 55+

Tuesday, June 26th 10:00 a.m. Blood pressure checks and Games 11:30 a.m. Meal

Fellowship Hall Adults 55+

Tennessee Country Christmas Trip Nashville & Pigeon Forge

November 27 - December 2 Brochures are available in the church offfice.

(Minimum of 20 people)

HIGH SCHOOL Friday fRiENdZY **June 22-GROG!** Meet at Youth Building at 9 Pm **June 29-IMAX Movie Night** Sign up online or in the office by June 27th

Garland Summer Musical Friday, June 22 Bus leaves at 4:00 pm Each person will purchase own meal. Limit of 25 tickets.

Ticket Cost: $26 Please see Kathy in church office to reserve your ticket.

Rebels of the Bible Grades 1-5 Wednesdays this summer @ 6 pm in Zone 45 September 21& 22, 2012 Friday night & Saturday

(Completed 4th or 5th Grade)

JULY 2-5 SHERMAN, TX Cost: $235.00

Sign up online or in the church office

Join us as we explore our partnership with the IMB to reach the tribal peoples of east Nepal with the gospel. we are preparing to take a team in january, 2013.

Come join us for more information.

Middle School R.O.T. (ROC on Tuesdays)

Various activities...Tuesdays at the ROC 1:00 pm Starts June 19

Lakeview Children’s Camp Grades 1 & 2 August 6 & 7 Cost: $35 Grade 3 August 6,7 & 8 Cost: $55 Sign up in the church office or online.

Please pray for the Middle School & High School students during Student Life Camp - June 10-16

June 17 5:00 pm Room 107

Come to the Table!

This summer, our High School students will be studying through the significance & symbolism of the traditional feasts of Israel found in the Old Testament.

Wednesdays at 6:00 pm at the ROC beginning June 6

Call Shirley in the church office for information and tickets

Pre-teen Student Life Camp

Nepal Informational Meeting

Saturday, June 30th 8:00 a.m.

Fellowship Hall Cost: $3.00

Indoor Soccer at the ROC! Thursdays 6-8 pm

OPen to High School students Starts June 21

Austin Mission Trip Donations requests for the Baptist Communtity Center Mission...

Elmers “Glue-All” Crayola Paints art supplies Uniball Pens(Blk,blue,red) construction paper postage stamps Playstation 2 games cash donations (ALL goes to BCCM, not mission trip funding)

116 Oak Avenue Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482

Non-Profit Organization U.S Postage Paid Permit No. 174 Sulphur Springs, Texas

Address service requested

For kids entering kindergarten -completed 6th grade

Get on Board!

See the wonders at VBS 2012!

June 18-22 8:30 am - noon